School Board Saga Continues In Surry

Daniels' Position Remains Hot Topic

SURRY — For weeks, many Surry County residents have flocked to School Board meetings, hoping to hear the members dismiss Superintendent LaVerne Daniels.

Tonight's meeting should be no different.

Residents sit through the meetings, stand up and make speeches during public-comment time. They cluster outside the meetings to talk about the state of Surry schools.

For the last two meetings, at least 30 people have sat through the board's closed sessions, waiting to see whether there's any truth to rumors that the board might get rid of Daniels.

Daniels has been criticized that she isn't responsive to board members, acts hostile toward the public and fails to issue contracts and work agreements.

After December meeting's closed session, board members came back out before the public and took a vote whether to fire Daniels. Two members voted yes, and two voted no. The fifth board member, Jacqueline Ricks, abstained -- leaving Daniels in her job.

No one will say what board members are discussing in closed session, but closed sessions are convened to discuss personnel matters and pending litigation. Terminating Daniels' contract would fall under personnel matters -- which has made many residents speculate on what the board might be discussing.

All the speculation and waiting is getting tiresome for many. Thomas Byrd, head of Concerned Citizens for Surry County Public Schools, said people were trying to be patient as they waited to see what the board would do.

"But they're very restless, and some of them are very unhappy," Byrd said of the residents who would like to see Daniels fired.